-
Website
http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/ -
Original page
http://www.mobileindustryreview.com/2009/03/mobile_industry_review_goes_subscription-only_from_30th_march.html -
Subscribe
All Comments -
Community
-
-
Top Commenters
-
Popular Threads
Shame I'm not going to be watching this stuff anymore, I can't do 12,000 pounds a year, but hey: hopefully the right people will be paying attention to these videos.
K
I am a little upset that such great content is not only moving to a paid subscription, but that it will only be available at such a huge cost. Sure, MIR is aimed at the industry and big business can afford 12k p.a., but individuals, from solo mobile app developers to "informed observers" like myself will miss out on the content and that really is a shame.
I can understand why the business model doesn't allow individual subscriptions at an affordable price point (no-one would buy the corporate subscriptions!) but it is a shame that such informed and entertaining content is to be removed from our lives with no way of getting it back.
I'll shed a tear but wish you all the best for your new direction.
But that price to read a blog? Wow. The economy in the UK must be more messed up than I realised.
This is sad news for your normal (non-corporate) fanbase. But, you guys are brilliant, so it had to happen one day.
shame that we (the 300) will be deprived of the content, but so it goes
All the best
I can well understand the need to move at least in part to a subscription based model - after all producing this stuff isn't free. BUT I seriously think the value of MIR will be eroded without the contributions, attention and goodwill of everyone who makes up the extended community.
Industry news, reviews and such are NOT worth 12k a year to anyone in my humble opinion - no matter how good they are. These is stuff out there in the public arena already and is best left as is so that said community can augment it - i.e. add value.
Research, now that is a whole different kettle of fish and I would whole heartedly support the "paid for" approach as this is where the value to corporates lies - in MIR's expertise in aggregating, dissecting, analysing and disseminating all that information that goes into corporate strategy.
So I for one think you may have missed the mark a little and certainly don't have 12k to spare nor the need right now for the research. The news I can get elsewhere.
Friends though I hope to remain.
Best of luck, and again, congratulations!
Congrats to the MIR team, you do deserve it, but at what cost.? I really hope you are doing the right thing here, I really do.
BTW - Does this mean I will never get an MIR Sticker? Ben?
I'll miss you all!
For the rest of us I have 2 suggestions:
1) We club together as a 'corporation', split the 12k about 12,000 ways.
2) We start our own communinty fed mobile site, a little like a digg mobile tech.
any takers?
i dont think anything can really replace what MIR provides, especially for us in the UK ... yes, there are other mobile news sites but none have the same character and community around them
I'm really gonna miss the shows, but it's great that you were able to get funding to keep it going. You're leaving a big empty hole in the Mobile Blogosphere... MIR will be missed!
Congratulations!
-matthew-
c'mon - share the MIR love (and I don't mean in a Whatley way either ;-)
It's good and bad news to hear you're going private. Good luck with the new direction :)
Loved MIR over the time, shame not going to see it anymore. Unless someone decides to let us PR agencies have exclusive access to content!!!
Keep in touch
Both for the tens of thousands of regular (and compulsive) readers presumably to be dumped at the kerbside and the great team of contributors you've built up who, I'd guess, won't get anything like the buzz when reporting for perhaps a hundred minted industry execs.
I'm sure you've made the right business decision Ewan, but I can't deny the news is most unwelcome.
I'm wondering if since 12,000 pounds is a rediculous amount to pay for online access, could I purchase in 2 minute blocks?? ;0)
farewell
new subscription fee expensive tho i guess targeting large companies.
but i hope you start something in parallel, if cant now due to contractual obligations, then when those obligations expire :-)
ceo
That said, I do wish all of you the best of luck because you're a talented, hard-working, ingenious crew.
I'm now going to remove MIR from my feeds because I don't want to stick around for when it's switched off. Gonna take a while to break the habit of checking your output many times a day.
All the best.
I've done a lot of work around trying to work out a model for covering the cost of bringing MIR to you every month. I failed -- it didn't work. I'm delighted that one company put its money where it's mouth is and said 'yes, please'. The fact that they choose to demand exclusivity is just the way it goes. They're entitled to do so. They're paying.
Let's be clear. We could deliver you MIR -- in better form than we have done to date -- if you and 1,332 others were prepared to pay £15 per month for Dan, Ben, James, myself and the rest of the support infrastructure. But you're not. We didn't even bother asking.
You're most welcome to surprise me with your offer to pay.
But getting 1,332 others to join you? Difficult. Very difficult.
So fiscal reality hits us all in the face -- and we move on.
And why are you basing your argument on a model involving only 1,332 readers. I don't know your visitor numbers - but why not try out a model based on a greater number of visitors with a more affordable subscription.
At least you could have asked.
You know some of us have been here since the early days.
(15 quid x 1,332 readers (plus yourself) gives 20k/month budget to competently deliver MIR as it was.)
We could have asked, and you'd have said no. And we move on.
However, why not pitch it at a lower level but with more people. A few quid a month isn't going to scare off the masses. Well not all of them. It might be feasible - actually I dont see why not - but you would need to ask. Give people a chance. You never know.
I am just shocked, that's all. It seems kind of callous. Maybe there was a build up to this but I definitely missed it.
Couldn't we have a show of hands?
A db couldn't recognise the payment from an email address, and email out a password?
They pay, so you can't tell us what you think...
It's a sad, commercial worlds we live in sometimes.
Alas, no one else valued them enough to pay!
But the real question remains: What will happen to Mr. Operator? Where will we be without him bringing the insider smackdown? (Hi Sally!) Will he get a spin-off - the Frasier to your Cheers? We need to know!
All I need now is some more people to join me. COME ON PEOPLE.
2 years ago I was just a "normob", until 3 launched X Series. In late Dec 2006 I bought myself an X-Series Gold contract, complete with a shiny new N73 and slingbox.
I can honestly say since then I have become immersed in the mobile data world, and very shortly after buying X-Series Gold started to read the old smstextnews site on a daily basis. I feel that we have all been on a truly great journey together, and I will miss all the banter and good times.
Cheers for now and congratulations again,
Trevor.
I'll wait to hear back from Ewan.
In the meantime: Please signify your interest in a sub here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=570540223...
/m
in all seriousness if there's really no ad money out there for a great site like MIR, with an influential readership, in a dynamic sector like mobile, with great management then online B2B media is screwed - we might as well go back to print where at least you can charge a cover price (and get high paying ads)
I know I would pay ... consider a Premium SMS subscription service to pay for the content ... happy to help :) :)
congrats about the business move. I am also a bit upset that I won't be able to see your videos and reporting anymore but hey, it's business and I am sure you did what's best for you.
I am a bit impressed that the company that bought MIR is planning to offer subscriptions for 12k. I thought that MIR is read by individuals mostly - not corporate customers - that won't be able to afford the sub.
Good luck in the new venture.
http://smsisthenewblack.co.uk/2009/03/14/so-lon...
Going suck not reading you guys more often. Guess I'll have to turn one of my sites into MIR v2 ;)
Blessings on the change of pace. We indeed live in exciting times.
Mir is a good blog written by mobile enthuisiasts it has but let's not kid ourselves here - the articlesl on this site are not innovitive or as well written as professional sources like gartner. Mir needs to its game. 12k for a random rant from Ewan about Twitter? no thanks.
good luck.
Peter
K
But come on, a grand-a-month contract? That's even more than VF's data charges.
Where's the pre-pay option? This is the MOBILE industry review.
LOL
Seriously, well done in turning your endeavours into a real business Ewan.
It's a completely different change for MIR. We no longer have a requirement to be 'big' or 'influential in the industry'.
Most PRs don't really have a clue about any of that.
What's weird is there are way more PRs covering the industry than reporters. How backwards is that? Unbelievable, but true.
The trick is to figure away to make other lines of *paid* business viable. Conferences are the favorite option, but that's a munchy line of work for the most part.
Will be interested to see how MIR comes out of it. I admire a lot about the site and the commentators.
-------------------------
Good luck in the future with your endeavours Ewan. You have entertained and educated us and totally deserve to go down whatever route you desire, and to seek out the money if you so wish!! Good luck!
But...
It was of course rather silly of the thousands of us who saw this site as a professional permanent resource rather than what it now just turns out to be - a hobby site run by a fantastic bunch of enthusiasts. As a long standing reader/contributor I feel a bit let down even though I truly mean what I say above. This blog has grown to be bigger than "just a blog", we all feel like we are a part of a proper professional news and views resource for the mobile industry. It feels like the ownership has become a collective. And there you were just a few weeks ago carrying cameras around and interviewing seriously big top execs at 3GSM; standing shoulder to shoulder with "proper" news companies. And pow! It's all gone in the blink of an eye. To think I'm writing this but in 10 days time the space filled by these words will just be a vacant vacuum of outer space is very very weird. Especially as the collective have had absolutely no say in the decision.
It strikes me that there is a list of readers and a website/url that has a daily viewership/readership. Your new business clearly doesn't need or want them or even need the website/url. So I am a total loss as to why you aren't keeping this site in situ and looking for volunteers, ideas, etc? Ok it might turn out to be crap without your incredible energy and resources and ability to find the stories. But why can this site not continue under different management, while you do whatever it is your new paymaster wants elsewhere?
And if that isn't possible, can you tell us (seriously!) how much you want for the list of readers and for the domain name?
steve/iTAGG
I can't see how MIR will make money from subscriptions and will the industry react differently if MIR conversations/discussions are not made available to the public?
(In an effort to ensure content remains public the rest of my thinking is on my blog which I have no intention of having you lot subscribe to for - well no more than £250 a month!)
"Now that the dust has settled and my mind is free enough of normal and important things to offer up some attention to this I think I can see what’s been bugging me about this whole affair...." continued at http://www.exponere.com/2009/the-mir-fallout/
"What is bugging me (or at least has been until today) is who on earth would have bought the rights? What content was it they were actually interested in and at what price?"
EWAN: I can't disclose the name of the company. The content they're interested in is as I set out on the post above - news, analysis, perspective, bit of video, with a bent toward their particular operating industry.
"In other words the only major value I can see in the MIR content is that of the video which is after all the most costly thing to produce."
EWAN: No. They value written content with a focus on reports discussing specific areas.
"I was kind of under the impression that like so many others James, Ben & Dan had given their time and efforts freely (or at least without being paid) to help create the MIR shows. If James is moving on does this mean the others will follow? Is this the end of the MIR show?"
EWAN: In most cases, James Ben and Dan gave their time for free and I paid for all expenses. e.g. They didn't pay anything when we went to Rome etc. This is indeed the end of the MIR Show as you know it, but James, Ben and Dan are free to do as they wish.
"Ewan talks about the new subscription model in “we” and “our” terms but will there even be a team to back him up?"
EWAN: Yes. I'm hiring some report writers and researchers. I can't afford to hire any of the contributors on their market rates -- and I don't think they'd be into this sort of thing even if I could.
"Did they get a pay day, should they have stood to gain financially from the changes, they were of course the creatives behind the content?"
EWAN: Did Ben Dan and James get a pay day? I think you've entirely mis-read the reality. They were giving their time for free and I was paying their expenses. I was paying for absolutely everything and I couldn't find a model that would allow me to continue to do so without stressing. To be clear I spent 33k in January alone on MIR. Me. We had the occasional supporter/advertiser, but it was me who funded it all. So we're not talking in terms of gaining financially. The financial gain I get from this 'transaction' is that I stop spending so much per month.
"Personally I can understand a move to a subscription model in part but seriously doubt that in its current form and without the support and goodwill of the community (who if they are like me feel a little deflated) I can’t see the “phenomenal reach” that is promised to would be subscribers."
EWAN: The current form of MIR ends next week. The client doesn't want the community. They want reports, they want a bit of news and analysis, they want some sit down video interviews. They don't want MIR in it's current form.
"There are a number of other questions running around my head mostly to do with the viability of the subscription strategy and Ewan’s ability to deliver but that can wait for another post methinks."
EWAN: My ability to deliver? Alas, the failure point was mine for assuming (and quite possibly delving in to that horrible, horrible no man's land of 'hoping') that the industry -- or the readers, working for huge, huge budget-rich companies -- would value our output enough to help out now and again. That's where I got it wrong, so I accept any criticism you'd care to level at me in this regard.
Just in case you're not quite there with the reality -- can I draw your attention to the post asking for assistance to help take the team to CTIA in Las Vegas. The first time I've really ever asked for support. Having spent upwards of, I don't know, 60k this year inc. Mobile World Congress, I thought, 'surely, surely someone or a few companies will help out.'
I got 11 responses to the post within 48 hours. Every single one said words to the effect of, 'sorry, no budget to help out, but could the team interview us on camera?'
So when you allude to the support, goodwill and such of the MIR community, we have to be very, very clear -- British Airways won't accept that in return for flights. That's the reality and I had to operate within it.
To your points on the subscription strategy, Barney, the transaction works fully with one subscriber, no further subscribers are required. So in that context I'm pleased that it's a done deal, I can relax, I can stop spending so much money and so much unpaid time on MIR. If in 3 years time, the client is unwilling to renew, then I'll stop providing a service.
Your comments relating to James and/or Jonathan heading off to the Cayman Islands with their proceeds -- well, that would be just phenomenal if I'd done a deal to sell MIR to News Corporation for $500m and hired the entire team on $10m 3-year talent contracts. I'd have loved to have been able to do so. Alas that isn't anywhere near the case.
Somebody has to pay. It was me -- and I reached the end of 'reasonable' and found an exit. Don't forget the MIR team who also helped produce the site -- don't forget that they were gracious enough to accept expenses and/or contribute their time for no direct recompense. I think your efforts on-going would be better served in thanking them for their efforts and supporting their next projects.
I'll be posting a note to this effect, in more detail, later on.
Trade publishing (call it blogging, if you like) is a difficult business. If companies want coverage (obviously they do to judge from the amount of PRs in the world) there should be some way of supporting the media that provides it. Basically, you have to have a pay to play element.
It gets difficult because media should be independent, otherwise people won't read it, and then more difficult because advertisers are not comfortable with too much straight talk, which is what makes MIR interesting and readable.
Paid research is a better model, because people actually want to pay to be told stuff straight. The catch here is you have to be good.
I am astounded (still) that comanies pay way more for PR to "place" them in media than they do to actually support media directly.
What company's gonna invest serious cash in a vehicle that may promote the competition and bag your own gear? When you have a hundred gadget blogs dead keen to review your new schwag, why pay?
Who benefits from the straight talk? We the consumers. Is there a model reliant on us to get value by contributing cash? Nope. Proved that myself last week.
Yes, a few PR budgets could have funded MIR, but convincing the PR advisors that is a good idea is like asking the chicken to suggest a good axe shop nearby. They will always say "nah, stick with us and we'll find someone who's free".
/m
I read The Guardian because even though it's got advertisments for financial services, it at least is still prepared to call out Barclays Bank on an alleged tax dodge scam.
Readers gravitate to good editorial and appreciate that advertisers support that.
There's also a difference between consumer tech news (gadgets & apps) and industry tech news. MIR coverage stradles both areas, which I like as a general interest reader, but is possibly harder to commercialize.
When SMS Text news became MIR Ewan should probably (possibly?) have got a direct sales person on the case right away. Even a few grand here and there at regular intervals makes a difference and you can start building commercial product around independent, quality, content. It is not easy.
Quite staggering.
Good luck Ewan, hope you sell out and make a fortune.
Ewan had a very expensive blogging hobby. He paid for a few friends to enjoy it with him, and to extend the hobby somewhat. Lots of other people were entertained and educated by watching Ewan and Friends while they enjoyed their hobby. No-one wanted to pay for Ewan to enjoy his hobby.
Ewan now has a job, essentially doing what he used to do in his hobby, but his friends can no longer join in as his employers only have the one job vacancy, and don't want him to have any work-related hobbies (I'm sure my contract of Employment has a similar clause in it somewhere!)
So we all lose out.
Ewan, if I'm right, then I apologise for my previous critical comments. I hope you enjoy the benefits of your new job.
I have enjoyed reading MIR (and watching some video presentations). What I fail to understand is the sudden dump of news to your viewers/followers that the decision is made - final.
It is extremely difficult to monetise any blog and I do understand with your industry focus it is more difficult to gain advertising revenue when it is a pure B2B community.
If 'ocifant' is correct in his presumption that you are hired with your property (I wish you luck) I can see that you will need to drop your other consulting work and focus on the new company, and if they are feeding you 12K a month -then go ahead - they are paying you to enjoy yourself.
I am sure you will be able to bring in consultants to extend the interview/review aspects on MIR video - and hopefully these will be the same good eggs that have made the previous MIR videos entertaining..
Hope everything goes well with this move.
On behalf of all of us, good luck to Ewan as he embarks on his new venture.
In less than 10 days time there will be no way for any of us to stay in contact, to continue discussing the mobile industry or cross-promote each others services and products. As Ewan and his new paymaster don't seem to have any desire or need to keep this group of readers together, it seems we need to say a final goodbye,... or find an alternative means of communicating and networking.
Initially we have 9 days so need something temporary to group all our names and contact details together. Going forward maybe there is something fancier we can do.
I am not going to put forward a mechanism yet as I would like to see if there are any backers and also to get a response from Ewan on such a concept.
steve/iTAGG
Also: If you still wanted to discuss this, I'm on 07769 658104 -- except not today as I left that one in a client office. But get me on IM ewanmacleod@hotmail.com or ewanmacleod@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56667173298
Thanks to Ewan for okaying it!
K
Congrats on the acquisition .. but it looks like the price will be a deterrent for me. If your product manager is paying attention to this thread, do add a +1 to your "loss prospect" list.
Joking right?
Sod that. IMHO No website is worth a subscription.
Shame, used to enjoy the site.
Have fun.